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Happy New Year! For me, the New Year is a great time for reflection. Many years ago I started a habit of keeping a journal. I am not one to write in it daily; but I make it a point to pull it out in the first part of January to write out my accomplishments from the previous year and to list out my goals, hopes, dreams and initiatives for the coming year (both personal and professional.) It’s fascinating to look at what was written the previous January. Most of the time, I forget what I wrote! Usually, the goals that were set have been accomplished (in some shape or form.) And more often than not, the outcome is far better than I could have imagined! So before I get you up to speed on the upcoming “Intimate Affairs,” I’d like to reflect back on 2012.

In 2012, we saw the launch of several new independent brands including Angela Friedman, Nevaeh Intimates, Fleur du Mal, Cheeki brand and Rouge Séduire among others. Julie Sygiel re-launched the revolutionary, absorbent, leak-proof and stain-resistant underthings now known as Dear Kate. And the Empowered By You panty was launched which enables underprivileged women to spearhead their own businesses.

The lingerie blogosphere expanded to include new bloggers and other independent intimate apparel professionals including my personal new fave, Caro the Lingerie Lesbian!

In ecommerce retailing, we saw new methods of marketing and selling intimates from sites including True & Co., IntiMint, AdoreMe.com and Ampere. Ecom retailers are offering lingerie subscription services and other innovative methods of retailing.

I witnessed an increased awareness of the importance of a proper fit. There were numerous online “debates” regarding the best way to fit, vanity sizing and so on. More and more brands, manufacturers and retailers are paying closer attention to the needs specific to the full-figure and full-busted consumer. Early last year, Bare Necessities launched their sister site, Bare Plus, which is an online shopping environment dedicated to this consumer.

Several e-tailers made an attempt to answer the question of how to get a proper fit when purchasing online. HerRoom.com launched the proprietary “Know your Breasts Bra Finder” questionnaire which purports to help you discover your best bra styles. And Freshpair.com re-launched their website which now includes more personalized services such as an At-Home Bra Fit Service and a Men’s Underwear Club. Freshpair also celebrated the 10th Anniversary of National Underwear Day by hosting a one-of-a-kind “It’s Time for a Change” pop-up store experience in New York City in August.

In August of 2012, my partner Luis Paredes, publisher of The Lingerie Journal (and The Business of Pleasure,) and I launched the online collaborative community of intimate apparel professionals known as The Lingerie Alliance. The Lingerie Alliance was inspired by the Brand Affair Marketing and PR Panel Discussion we hosted during February Market 2012. The Brand Affair proved to us that there is a need for a collaborative community of lingerie professionals as well as education, information and resources. Throughout the year, we sponsored several events including NOLCHA Fashion Week’s Closing Party and the non-profit fundraisers PinkChoseMe’s BRA Day USA 2012 and Go Naked and Check Yourself. We ended the year with a fun “Festive Affair” Holiday Networking Social which represented our vision for The Lingerie Alliance. The coming year will bring more events, workshops and seminars tailored specifically for today’s intimate apparel professional and we hope to have the membership functionality for the site itself completed before Summer.

Lauren Rich of RICHPR announced that she will be launching LingerieFW in New York City in February 2013. LingerieFW will be the first fashion week dedicated to intimate apparel brands.

In late October, the northeast suffered the wrath of Hurricane Sandy which delayed the quarterly wholesale market week and destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses including my friend Marla Wink’s lingerie store, Indian Summer, in Beach Haven, Long Beach Island, New Jersey. (I’m happy to report that Marla is as determined as ever to rebuild her store and is hopeful that she will re-open her doors in time for the busy Summer selling season down the shore.)

The Lingerie Collective is coming to New York City in February 2013! The boutique trade show is well-known in London for featuring British and international emerging brands with a focus on innovation and luxury.

The non-profit Underfashion Club and the Intimate Apparel Square Club continued their programs in 2012 including the FEMMY Gala last February, the H.U.G. Awards Gala in November, various other programs throughout the year and their annual Holiday parties in December. Both organizations make significant contributions to our industry and raise funds to support their respective causes.

Other charity events included Go Naked and Check Yourself which was hosted in part by Sweetest Sin Boutique in Red Bank, New Jersey and included sponsors LELO and The Lingerie Alliance.

Overall, 2012 was a year full of growth and advancements. I am motivated by the forward movement in our industry and look forward to seeing further progress throughout 2013. I wish all of you the best of health, happiness, a sense of well-being, success and prosperity in your professional lives and in your personal endeavors.

Mark your calendars for these upcoming “Intimate Affairs” which are taking place here in the USA and around the World:

The Lingerie Collective in London- January 13th – 15th, 2013

Salon International de la Lingerie and Interfiliere in Paris- January 19th – 21st, 2013

Hey there Lingerie Lovers! I think I’ve finally recovered from my trip to Los Angeles. It was a whirlwind trip, but very productive. So it was well worth it…. And I got to hang out with boob and bra expert Elisabeth Dale! Ya can’t beat that, right? But you know me… I was back in the saddle as soon as I returned to New York. And there’s a lot going on in the intimates biz. Here are a few highlights….

The Underfashion Club has announced the 2013 FEMMY Award Honorees . Awards will be presented to Bloomingdale’s, Cosabella and Lenzing Fibers; the Innovation Award will go to Hautelook.com and Josie Natori, founder and CEO of The Natori Company will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Carson Kressley

The Intimate Affair is being held on Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at Cipriani on 42nd Street and is being hosted by funny guy Carson Kressley. The theme of the 2013 Student Design Contest is “Midnight Garden” – Seduction of Flowers. For further details, visit www.underfashionclub.org.

Contributing along with the PinkChoseMe Foundation for Breast Reconstruction Awareness (BRA) Day USA 2012, Celebrity Stylist Lavette Slater will be donating her stylish services to Breast Cancer survivor, Susan Blinken. Susan will be getting a glam makeover by the hands of a beauty master and her glamorous look will be revealed at the end of the night. Breast Cancer affects the mind, body, and soul of a woman. What better way than to acknowledge the beauty of a woman after conquering this deadly disease. With style and grace, 3x Emmy Award Winning Hair and Makeup Stylist, Lavette Slater conveys a vivid quality through her skilled eye and hands when she is with each and every client. With over 15 years as a celebrity hairstylist and beauty expert; Lavette Slater is known as a trendsetter in the hair and makeup industry.

Did you know that Wolford’s Shapewear is as fabulous as their Legwear? The ladies of ILOVEAGOOD are hosting an invite-only Intimate Affair on October 25th. Guests will be treated to Wolford’s “Shape and Control” experience. Cocktails and a private shapewear fitting…. PLUS, a Free Gift! Count me in!

The Intimate Apparel Square Club’s 57th Annual H.U.G. Award Gala is less than a month away. This year’s Intimate Affair (called “An Enchanted Evening”) honors LuAnn Via, President and CEO of Payless ShoeSource, Inc., as well as Steven Chernoff, chairman of Rago Foundations, LLC and Janet Peters will be presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award for her dedication to the Club. The annual event raises funds to support NYU Langone Medical Center’s RUSK Institute and Tisch Hospital. Join us on Wednesday, November 7th at 230 Fifth Penthouse to celebrate the humanitarian achievements of our honorees and to support the “RUSK Kids.” Also note, the Club is seeking contributions of merchandise and/or services to include in the SILENT AUCTION, which provides additional and much needed financial support for the Rusk/Tisch Kids. If you have (or someone you know has,) an item or two that you would like to donate for the auction, please get in touch with me ASAP.

The Lingerie Alliance is proud to be participating in another fundraiser on November 18th at Teak Restaurant, in Red Bank, New Jersey. The Intimate Affair, GO NAKED AND CHECK YOURSELF, is an evening dedicated to bringing awareness / prevention to detectible cancers where you can go naked and check yourself – skin, breast and testicular cancers. The event is presented by Sugarush (a specialty bakery in Red Bank, NJ) and the award-winning lingerie boutique, Sweetest Sin. The mission of Go Naked and Check Yourself is to take the stigma of embarrassment out of checking yourself, because early detection can prevent long term issues. All proceeds from the event benefit charities such as The American Cancer Society.

Can you believe that the Holidays are right around the corner? Mark your calendars for these upcoming Intimate Affairs:

The breast cancer awareness organization, PinkChoseMe Foundation, is hosting Breast Reconstruction Awareness (BRA) Day USA 2012, an awareness and fundraising celebration, on October 17th, 2012. I am delighted to announce that The Lingerie Alliance is sponsoring this event to help make it a success. Tiffany Jones, Founder and President of PinkChoseMe Foundation, is working with the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the Plastic Surgery Foundation to bring BRA Day USA 2012 to New York City for the very first time. The Intimate Affair is sponsored by the Breast and Plastic Surgeons at the Weill Cornell Breast Center in NYC. This unique awareness and fundraising event is being held at the upscale Martin Lawrence Gallery in New York’s famed downtown neighborhood, SoHo. The event is expected to attract numerous celebrities and other notable / prominent, world-renowned individuals to support this important cause. Singer/songwriter, New York Times bestselling author and humanitarian, Jewel, is serving as the national spokesperson for BRA Day USA, advocating on behalf of the cause through media appearances, public service announcements, a dedicated BRA Day USA song and benefit concert event. BRA Day USA has partnered with MobileCause to facilitate the fundraising process. Individuals and companies are welcome to make donations to support this cause by texting PINK and the dollar amount of their contribution to 717777. All donations will benefit The PSF BRA Fund (less transaction fees.)

This celebratory event which is intended to be uplifting and spirited caps a day filled with events throughout the country and in New York, which are dedicated to “closing the loop.” This festive affair will include pink bubbly and light fare, VIP gift bags, music, silent auctions and dedicated art exhibits. In addition, special honored guests will be presented with awards for their dedication and commitment to PinkChoseMe Foundation and the first ever BRA Day USA. In addition to The Lingerie Alliance, sponsors, contributors and participants of the event include The Plastic Surgery Foundation, the well-known Martin Lawrence Gallery, MARTINI beverage distributors, the leading online retailer of men’s and women’s underwear and intimates Freshpair.com, luxury beauty and lingerie brand Naked Princess, floral design company Only Roses, San Francisco based beauty brand Benefit Cosmetics, Young Professionals United for Change, Michael Steele Photography and apparel brand Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti.

I am partnered with Tiffany Jones to organize this event which has become a personal passion for me. Last year, I attended Linda the Bra Lady’s annual Breast Cancer Awareness Event at her Murray Hill store. At that time, I made a promise to myself that I would dedicate more time and energy to advocating for those affected by breast cancer. As luck would have it, breast cancer survivor Tiffany Jones approached me to help her in executing this event. I am delighted!

Sylvia (right) with her daughter Liz

And most importantly, I am dedicating my hard work in making this event a success to my dear friend, Sylvia D. Walter. Sylvia lost her battle to metastatic breast cancer this past Friday, September 21st. She fought this disease for nearly two decades with valor, grace and dignity. Rest in peace, Sylvia! You will never be forgotten.

In other news….

The Annual UK Lingerie Awards took place on September 19th. The gala Awards ceremony and dinner was held at London’s fashionable One Mayfair. The full list of winners is:

Lingerie Brand of the Year: MYLA

Most Innovative Brand of the Year: Made By Niki

Full Bust Brand of the Year: Curvy Kate

New Designer of the Year: Dirty Pretty Things

Post-Surgery Brand of the Year: Jamu Australia

Maternity Brand of the Year: Hot Milk

Hosiery Brand of the Year: Jonathan Aston

Shapewear Brand of the Year: Spanx

Swimwear Brand of the Year: Pistol Panties

Sports Bra Brand of the Year: Panache Sport

Marketing Campaign of the Year: Curvy Kate for its Star in a Bra competition

Independent Directional Brand of the Year: Made By Niki

Independent Retailer of the Year: Dolci Follie

Multiple Retailer of the Year: Rigby & Peller

Digital Retailer of the Year: Figleaves

Department Store of the Year: Selfridges

Winners of the 2012 UK Lingerie Awards Public Vote Categories are:

UK’s Favourite British Designer: Kiss Me Deadly

UK’s Favourite Lingerie Retailer: Debenhams

UK’s Favourite Lingerie Brand: Gossard.

The final presentation of the night was for the UK Lingerie Awards Lifetime Achievement Award, which was won by Theo Paphetis, who was honoured for creating two of the UK’s largest lingerie retail chains; first with La Senza, which he sold, and in the past two years with Boux Avenue.

Reminder of upcoming Intimate Affairs in the New York area:

On Thursday, September 27th, Linda’s in Murray Hill is hosting a Simone Perele Trunk Show from 10am until 9pm. Guests will have the opportunity to view the entire Fall 2012 collection and preview the Spring 2013 collection in store. Linda is offering 10% off all Simone Perele purchases on the 27th (including pre-orders of the Spring 13 styles) plus each guest will receive a Free Gift with purchase. After 6pm, Linda’s will be turned into a “Parisian Paradise” replete with Parisian treats and cocktails. Oooo La La!

Also on September 27th, Sweetest Sin in Red Bank, New Jersey will be celebrating her third anniversary! The party starts in the boutique at 5pm and includes free professional bra fittings, exclusive specials, 10% off all purchases, pink bubbly and light snacks. Then… as if that wasn’t enough…. Guests are invited to join Angie Courtney, owner of Sweetest Sin, for an “after party” at Taste Lounge in the Red Bank Galleria. If you bring your receipt from Sweetest Sin Boutique, you are treated to a free cocktail. The Intimate Affair will feature live music, a Trunk Show showcasing the high-end lingerie and beauty brand Naked Princess, Gift Bags (including items from our favorite luxury brand, Naked Princess,) Raffle Prizes including an exclusive Gift Basket filled with steamy goodies and a Gift Card valued at $200 from Sweetest Sin! At this Intimate Affair, all proceeds from the Raffles and 20% of the proceeds from Taste Lounge will be donated to The Semper Fi Fund.

Got Insight? Having an Intimate Affair? Let us know! Everyone can be an Intimate Insider!